What is Genomics Science Dojo?

The Genomics Science Dojo is a program supported by the British Embassy in Jakarta and was first launched in 2024. It aims to enhance researchers’ capacities in genomic data analysis and health sciences to support more effective decision-making. It welcomes individuals of all genders, backgrounds, and persons with disabilities (PwDs) to participate.

“The program is structured in different waves of participants, where each person works on a project, usually a manuscript. The participants must defend their ideas in front of the opponents. This program also trains participants in publishing, article reviewing, and understanding the peer-review process. And the selected participants will receive support to publish their work in reputable journals,” Sylvia explained to uns.ac.id on Wednesday (4/6/2025).

Sylvia added that each team was required to consist of two members and that the program was fully funded. All participants received financial support, including flight tickets, accommodation, meals, local transportation, and more. The Genomics Science Dojo 2025 began with an online workshop on May 15-16, followed by an in-person minicamp at Novotel Cikini Jakarta on May 19-22. The program concluded with the Shinjitsu Grand Tournament on May 23.

The competition consisted of three cycles. There were Cycle 1, Cycle 2, and Cycle 3. Eight teams were selected from each cycle to advance to the Shinjitsu Grand Tournament. Initially, 24 teams were expected to compete in Jakarta, but only 22 participated.

During the workshop in Jakarta, participants also joined the Shinjitsu Ninja Challenge, a series of tasks completed sequentially. The challenge included abstract writing, data visualization, and peer review critique. This challenge was an advantage for Sylvia and her teammate as it was newly introduced in Cycle 3, the cycle they were part of.

Sylvia Shares Her Experience

Sylvia and Nuha were the only international student team in the competition, while most participants were Indonesian. Sylvia doubted their chances of winning, as most other participants came from more specialized fields like biotechnology and genetics. In contrast, she and Nuha had a public health background and used secondary data from IFLS. “But it turned out to be a great experience because we could defend our ideas and attack our opponents,” she added.

The competition was intense and stressful. Sylvia recalled the pressure of not knowing their next opponent, which meant they had to prepare constantly. Each team created presentation posters, so participants had to quickly study their opponents’ materials, identify weaknesses, and formulate arguments. Initially, they had no expectations of winning, but after defeating their first and second opponents, they decided to take the competition more seriously.

Throughout the program, their team was mentored by Dr. Edward, who guided them in defending their ideas, what to say, and what to avoid. Participants were also allowed to consult other doctors present at the event. This mentorship was a valuable support system for many teams.

Sylvia admitted she was surprised they won, considering most participants were Master’s or PhD students or professionals, while only few were undergraduates. To prepare, she studied Nuha’s topic thoroughly. They divided their roles, with Nuha answering questions from the opposing teams and Sylvia focusing on attacking opponents’ arguments. Their intense collaboration played a key role in their success.

Sylvia Encourages UNS Students to Join

Sylvia strongly recommends that other UNS students participate in the Dojo Science and Genomics World Champions program, especially those in science fields. She believes the experience is valuable for building confidence and developing critical thinking skills. In addition, selected participants have the opportunity for free research publication, which is highly beneficial.

“I highly recommend UNS students, especially those in science, to join this program next year. It builds confidence. In the debate competition, you’re challenged with unexpected questions that require critical and quick thinking. Another benefit is the chance for free publication, which is a rare and valuable opportunity,” Sylvia concluded.

Humas UNS

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Distinguished Guests in Attendance

Several distinguished figures attended this prestigious event. There was Prof. Dr. Zudan Arif Fakrulloh, S.H., M.H., Head of the National Civil Service Agency (BKN). He also serves as Vice Chairman of the UNS Alumni Association (IKA UNS). Also present was Paulus Dwi Laksono, Head of Regional Office I BKN. Another was Prof. Ihwan Susila, Ph.D., Vice Rector III of Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta. Next was Prof. Dr. Hasnawi Haris, M.Hum., Vice Rector of Universitas Negeri Makassar. Lastly, there was Prof. Dr. Sukamto Satoto, S.H., M.H., Head of the Doctoral Program in Law at Universitas Jambi.

Breakdown of Graduates by Program

Vice Rector for Academic and Research Affairs, Prof. Fitria Rahmawati, S.Si., M.Si., presented a detailed report on the graduates. The 593 graduates comprised:

• Diploma III: 27 graduates
• Diploma IV: 4 graduates
• Bachelor’s Program: 438 graduates
• Specialist Medical Education: 31 graduates
• Master’s Program: 74 graduates
• Doctoral Program: 19 graduates
• International Students: 2 (from Turkmenistan and Malaysia)

Outstanding Graduates

This period’s fastest and youngest graduates included:

Doctoral Program

• Fastest Graduate: Dr. Indra Rahmatullah (Doctoral program in Law) – 2 years, 11 months
• Youngest Graduate: Dr. Noor Shazreen Binti Mortadza (Doctoral program in Economics) – 31 years

Master’s Program

• Fastest Graduate: Ainina Ratnadewi, M.E. (Economics and Development Studies) – 1 year, 3 months
• Youngest Graduate: Anisya Nur Widya, M.E. (Economics and Development Studies) – 22 years, 10 months

Bachelor’s Program

• Fastest Graduate: Nadia Ananda Putri, S.Pd. (Physical Education, Health, and Recreation) – 3 years, 4 months
• Youngest Graduate: Salzha Devinta, S.Ked. (Medical) – 20 years, 1 month

Diploma IV Program

• Fastest Graduate: Muhammad Miftah Dhiya’ulhaq, S.Tr.Kes. (Occupational Health and Safety) – 4 years, 3 months
• Youngest Graduate: Firdaus Maulidina Achmad, S.Tr.Sos. (Demography and Civil Registration) – 23 years

Diploma III Program

• Fastest Graduate: Riska Oktavia A., A.Md. (Taxation) – 2 years, 10 months
• Youngest Graduate: Muhammad Aji Pangestu, A.Md. (Chemical Engineering) – 19 years, 10 months

Inspiring Words from Graduate Representative

Representing the graduates, Dr. Noor Shazreen Binti Mortadza expressed gratitude and shared her journey. Originally from Malaysia, she first came to Solo for research during her Master’s studies. She fell in love with the city, which led her to pursue a Doctorate at UNS.

“When I pursued my Master’s degree in Malaysia, I conducted research in Solo. Although my time there was short, I fell in love with the city. This led me to continue my Doctoral studies at UNS. Despite many challenges and obstacles, I aspire to become a lecturer,” Dr. Shazreen shared.

Encouraging Message from UNS Alumni Association

Prof. Zudan encouraged graduates to express gratitude to their parents and lecturers, emphasizing the importance of resilience and continuous learning.

“To all alumni, uphold UNS’s good name and continue to nurture your love and pride for your alma mater. With its growing reputation, alumni play a crucial role in enhancing UNS’s prestige. Success is not solely about holding high positions but overcoming challenges and solving problems. These accomplishments serve as the foundation for greater achievements,” he remarked.

The ceremony concluded with warm congratulations to all graduates, marking a significant milestone in their academic and professional journeys.

Humas UNS

Reporter: Dikky Yudi Pradana
Editor: Dwi Hastuti

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Osman completed his two-year program with an impressive GPA of 3,87. He expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to study on a UNS scholarship and for the experiences he gained during his stay in Solo, especially at UNS.

“Alhamdulillah, everything at UNS was wonderful, especially the people. I’m grateful to the lecturers, staff, security, and friends who helped me throughout these two years. It’s truly been a great opportunity,” Osman shared.

Prior to his studies at UNS, Osman had already completed a bachelor’s degree in economics and banking and a master’s degree in the same field in Bangladesh. When asked about his decision to pursue another master’s degree in education, Osman explained that he was eager to transition into the educational field.

“I want to venture into education and share knowledge. To do that, I felt it was necessary to deepen my understanding of effective teaching methods and educational approaches,” Osman explained.

During his studies at UNS, Osman felt warmly welcomed and integrated with those around him. This openness allowed him to explore other regions in Java and frequently engage in sports with friends and UNS staff members.

To fellow students, Osman emphasized the importance of staying focused in their studies. “If you stay focused and pursue what you want, everything is possible. Nothing is impossible if you put in the effort,” he advised. With Osman’s success, UNS reaffirms its commitment to supporting sustainable development goals in quality education by providing optimal services to all students, including international students, through both academic and non-academic support. HUMAS UNS

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The number of international students enrolled at a university contributes 5% in the assessment indicators of the QS World University Ranking. As one of the universities included in the First National Cluster, UNS is mandated to achieve World Class University predicate, which can be achieved through the QS benchmarks.

During the workshop on Thursday (28/10/2021), the Head of the UNS International Office, Rino Ardhian N., Ph.D., said that international students enrolled at UNS show a significant increase. “Registration for the 2020 academic year recorded a total of 105 applicants. However, the number is decreased in 2021 to 52 applicants because of the pandemic period, while the 2022 academic year increased to 241 applicants from 41 countries. This situation will be a challenge for the academic support staff to provide the best services for international students,” he said in his speech.

The first session of this workshop invites Marieti Debyora Gardiana, S.Si., as the Sub Coordinator of Administration for the UNS International Office. Gardiana presented her research on intercultural communication strategies for the development of the UNS international student service system. The research was conducted using non-APBN funding through the UNS Research and Community Service (P2M) program managed by the Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) UNS.

“The idea for this research started from a discussion with Mr. Sulistiyo Joko Wahyudi, ST., along with the other UNS International Office staff colleagues, regarding the challenges in intercultural communication and the strategies that have been implemented to overcome them,” explained Gardiana.

The research, whose team consisted of Rino Ardhian Nugroho, Ph.D., and Albert Muhammad Isrun Naini, Ph.D., was conducted through in-depth interviews with 12 International Affairs Office staff from 5 (five) universities.

The second session was a talk show with three invited speakers, namely, Abdul Rohman, S. Hum., a staff from Diponegoro University International Office; Anas Fauzi, S.Pd., a Staff for Foreign Cooperation in Universitas Negeri Semarang, and Erna Mustikasari, MIKom., the manager of the Student Development Partnership (KNB) scholarship for the UNS Graduate School.

Led by Sulistiyo Joko Wahyudi, ST., the invited speakers share practical tips and tricks in communicating with international students according to their respective experiences. The workshop was attended by approximately 115 participants and was concluded with the distribution of a book entitled ‘Be Curious and Act Globally’ by Yudi Sastroredjo. Humas UNS

Reporter: Bayu Aji Prasetya
Editor: Dwi Hastuti

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